Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. The 51% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view of the judge's decision-making, while latest-period data allows for a current comparison against the 63% office approval rate and the 58% national average. These figures are derived from thousands of cases, providing the statistical context for your hearing.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Brennan's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The 4,513 decisions on record since 2016 reveal a trend that has shifted over time. After a period of lower approval rates between 2017 and 2021, the data shows a rise in approvals starting in 2024. The latest-period approval rate of 61% indicates that this recent trend has remained consistent through the first half of 2026.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Brennan's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Billings hearing office
Luke A. Brennan's most recent office on record is the Billings hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across Montana and the surrounding region, maintaining a bench of 13 judges. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 63%, you can expect a review of your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Billings
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. These judges show an approval-rate range of 32% to 70% on their records since 2016.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Judge Brennan's 51% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 32% to 70% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Billings. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards this judge has applied in recent years.
Yes, the data shows a shift. After hovering between 44% and 50% for several years, the approval rate rose to 61% in 2024 and has remained at that level through the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how this trend might impact the presentation of your medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control your judge assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical documentation is the best way to prepare for your hearing. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be questioned about your daily limitations and work history. Working with an attorney can help you organize your testimony and ensure your medical records are fully developed before you appear.
